The Jet Pilot Murray vest is the most popular vest for people who have to wear a CGA that don't want too. It is what the majority of us wear at McCormicks. It is still bulky but definitely more flexible than other CGA's that I have worn. The A-10 is my vest of choice for riding. It floats fine and has good padding for those bad diggers.

I got the CWB Essential vest, and I love it. I had the non-CGA CWB Faction, but it didn't float me enough for my comfort level. If i was floating and exhaled, i'd start sinking. The essential is pretty much the CGA version of the Faction, and in my opinion it fits exactly the same. Oversized arm-holes, slim fit, all that stuff that non-cga's give you, Not bulky at all. But other options, i'd definitely say the Jet Pilot that others on here have mentioned. My friend's got one and i've worn it plenty of times. very comfortable

kyle, the only way an A-10 floats you fine, is if you weigh less than the vest. That vest is full of style but nothing on float. Blow all of the air out of your lungs and tell me how well it floats you.

Randy, hahaha true, I'll try it next time I ride which with this cold front we have been having will not be for a while lol.

Mikey, I don't listen to people preaching to me about how we should only wear a CGA vest and people who freak out when a rider doesn't wear a vest in a video. For me personally, CGA vests are way to bulky and interfere with how I like to ride. They are bulky, stiff and 100% inhibit some of your flexibility (and I am already not a flexible person so that basically make me feel like I'm riding like a show skier converted wakeboarder). I have gotten the wind knocked out of my lungs more times than I can count and have floated up to the top of the water every time. When a story comes out about a rider that drowns wearing a non-cga vest (GOD FORBID) then I will wear one, but being that that will never happen, I think I am safe. There is one noncga that I actually felt uncomfortable riding in and it was a 1080 comp vest, and I took it right off and put on my JP vest. I have ridden without a vest one time when I was wearing a spring top because we were shooting photos and I vowed to never do it again. Just because a noncga doesn't float you up like a freaking bobber doesn't mean it doesn't float, it just means it does not meet ALL of the coast guards regulations. Something gives me a feeling that those apply to some water situations that I will definitely not be in. I will make a promise to you though that if I ever tow into Teahupoo or any other big tow wave, I will be wearing a CGA vest.

I have 2 non CGA vests that float pretty well. A O'neill Outlaw which is super comfy and a LF Watson that will float me about nose level with no air in the lungs. The LF Watson CGA makes me feel like the Michelin man and like Kyle, I'm not all that flexible to begin with.

lol ya kyle I was just being a jerk about it. I never said you COULDN'T ride without a CGA vest, I just said it's DUMB. Much like powerturning, feel free to do it, but it's dumb. No but seriously there are CGAs now that aren't restrictive, the Watson CGA is not one of them. From the old thread on vests we argued in before I bought the Helium Paisley CGA and it is very thin and easy arm movement. Very nice.